Here in the Sonoran Desert, we have Desert Cottontails and Jackrabbits. We are in the middle of a terrible heatwave so I have made a point of getting up early to water and provide wet spots under bushes for these critters to relax. Yesterday our front yard hosted 2 jackrabbits, ~6 cottontails, 4 or 5 desert iguanas and countless other lizards during the afternoon heat.
I am so happy you came back to Substack. I love your posts and look forward to them everyday. Thank you and have a fabulous day.
Hi Barbara, We're in the middle of a heatwave here in coastal New England too. It's quite unprecedented for this area. It is wonderful that you create wet spots for the critters. Desert Cottontails and Jackrabbits are both adorable. The ears on the jackrabbits are so big! Thank you so much for being here and I am glad my posts resonate with you!
As a fellow photographer I am in awe of these photos! You are so lucky to have those gorgeous creatures in your yard.
I get dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, feral cats, and lots of snails. On a very rare occasion we will get a rabbit or two. I have also gotten a praying mantis here and there.
Your posts are always insightful and enjoyable, glad that you stuck it out on Substack. These are cute bunnies. Here we don't have bunnies so much as European hares, like the size of little dogs. I occasionally spot one or two around, but at one point this year there were four or five of them in the field out in front of my house. I was able to get some photos and videos of them scampering around. On animal totems, being fortunate to have a variety of animals in my vicinity, I like to see what comes around at different times, and then think about the qualities or symbolism of those animals to my life in that moment.
Jason, Thanks so much, I am glad I stuck it out too and appreciate your support here. I've always wanted to see some European hares. Hopefully I will some time in the future. I need the animal totem that signifies travel to appear in my yard for a while and a few thousand in travel cash! LOL! I am all about the totems and symbols that show up in my life. There are no small coincidences.
Beautiful pictures! I enjoyed your essay, Pamela, Thank you for sharing. 🙏🐰❤
I was lucky enough to hold a white rabbit once, at the local park--someone brought their little bunny for a hop in the park, and they let me hold him for a bit. 😍 I can only hope he's as happy as the rabbits in your backyard. 🙏🙂
I first looked in wonder at the beautiful portraits.
Then I read to see what telephoto lens you used with a premium Nikon camera, because only with . . .
What a minute, you are such a lover of nature that our shy friend let you tiptoe right up to her to share wondrous portraits with each hair showing crisply the majestic beauty and dignity of our little vegetarian.
My God, you are an artist.
And you live in Massachusetts, the home of the enlightened Transcendentalists, which are the top of American culture and shares with Black-America the distinction of the greatest literary minds, Emerson, Thoreau, Emily Dickenson, onto the great moderns Richard Wright, Zora Neale-Hurston, Toni Morrison, Amanda Gorman and Jesmyn Ward -- all of the latter sharing in the core values of our Transcendental greats!
Beautiful photographs. I’m glad you’ve reposted them for us. Looking at those rabbits with the lush green grass brings me back to when I was a child. Rabbits, robins and squirrels are all favorites of mine.
Thank you! I am always talking to the critters when they are in the yard. Especially when I am behind the lens and I want them to stick around so that I can get photos.
One can learn an awful lot from talking to rabbits, and birds, and squirrels. People living in the townhouse units near me probably think me a little daft, but I am absolutely not imagining the soft clicks my crow friends respond to me with, and my squirrel acquaintances cock their heads in the most knowing manner when I say hello to them.
All of my neighbors think I am daft too, but I honestly don't care. I creep about the yard with my camera, talking softly to the birds, insects and critters, and the plants! I am happy!
Bunnies and flowers existing in perfect harmony is such a beautiful thing. After reading this, I'll look at the rabbits in my yard differently. Thanks, Pamela.
Rod, I've been pretty lucky with rabbits in the yard and the woodchuck as well, that they don't really get into my flowers. However, something has made waste of all of my morning glories that self seeded from last year. It's okay, I am glad some critter got fed! Thank you Rod!
Dear Pamela, Your Newsletter is really refreshing! Thank you! I wish you all the best!
Thank you so much Mladena! I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Here in the Sonoran Desert, we have Desert Cottontails and Jackrabbits. We are in the middle of a terrible heatwave so I have made a point of getting up early to water and provide wet spots under bushes for these critters to relax. Yesterday our front yard hosted 2 jackrabbits, ~6 cottontails, 4 or 5 desert iguanas and countless other lizards during the afternoon heat.
I am so happy you came back to Substack. I love your posts and look forward to them everyday. Thank you and have a fabulous day.
Hi Barbara, We're in the middle of a heatwave here in coastal New England too. It's quite unprecedented for this area. It is wonderful that you create wet spots for the critters. Desert Cottontails and Jackrabbits are both adorable. The ears on the jackrabbits are so big! Thank you so much for being here and I am glad my posts resonate with you!
As a fellow photographer I am in awe of these photos! You are so lucky to have those gorgeous creatures in your yard.
I get dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, feral cats, and lots of snails. On a very rare occasion we will get a rabbit or two. I have also gotten a praying mantis here and there.
I look forward to seeing more pictures 😊
Thanks so much CM! The rabbits in the yard are a treat. I feel lucky that they are here. I never see snails in the yard, but I do on the beach.
Such wonderful photos! I love the shots of the rabbit eating.
Thank you James! It's a lot of fun when the rabbits just sit and eat and I can get multiple images of them, as is the case with many of these photos.
Your posts are always insightful and enjoyable, glad that you stuck it out on Substack. These are cute bunnies. Here we don't have bunnies so much as European hares, like the size of little dogs. I occasionally spot one or two around, but at one point this year there were four or five of them in the field out in front of my house. I was able to get some photos and videos of them scampering around. On animal totems, being fortunate to have a variety of animals in my vicinity, I like to see what comes around at different times, and then think about the qualities or symbolism of those animals to my life in that moment.
Jason, Thanks so much, I am glad I stuck it out too and appreciate your support here. I've always wanted to see some European hares. Hopefully I will some time in the future. I need the animal totem that signifies travel to appear in my yard for a while and a few thousand in travel cash! LOL! I am all about the totems and symbols that show up in my life. There are no small coincidences.
Beautiful pictures! I enjoyed your essay, Pamela, Thank you for sharing. 🙏🐰❤
I was lucky enough to hold a white rabbit once, at the local park--someone brought their little bunny for a hop in the park, and they let me hold him for a bit. 😍 I can only hope he's as happy as the rabbits in your backyard. 🙏🙂
Pet rabbits are so cute and cuddly. I am not sure how happy the rabbits are in my backyard, but they sure a cute, even when they eat my flowers!
Love these photos!
Thank you Diane!
Pamela Leavey: Your photography is breathtaking.
I first looked in wonder at the beautiful portraits.
Then I read to see what telephoto lens you used with a premium Nikon camera, because only with . . .
What a minute, you are such a lover of nature that our shy friend let you tiptoe right up to her to share wondrous portraits with each hair showing crisply the majestic beauty and dignity of our little vegetarian.
My God, you are an artist.
And you live in Massachusetts, the home of the enlightened Transcendentalists, which are the top of American culture and shares with Black-America the distinction of the greatest literary minds, Emerson, Thoreau, Emily Dickenson, onto the great moderns Richard Wright, Zora Neale-Hurston, Toni Morrison, Amanda Gorman and Jesmyn Ward -- all of the latter sharing in the core values of our Transcendental greats!
Thank you Armand! I have mastered the art of stealth walking thanks to my love of nature. It gets me closer wildlife pretty much anywhere.
Soooo cute 💙
Thank you Joyce!
Love this post.
We too have bunnies!
They tease my Schaunzer, by waiting for her to awaken, just past the driveway on gravel.
She runs towards them, they show her how fast rabbits are, Daily.
They live under a shed next door, near the property line.
Ahahaha hahaha I get a kick out of it.
Although Coco is a schaunzer, she wouldn't harm another animal.
She's so gentle.
We have male and female Cardinals.
Bad Bluejays, birth giving Robin's and their young, Hawks, Ravens and their young, Turkeys, raccoon, deer, and shunk.
Thank you for sharing your pics.
Thanks so much Ant! It sounds like you have a full array of wildlife in your yard! No deer in my yard, but all else!
At times they wander in and stay awhile.
Love your photography!
Beautiful photographs. I’m glad you’ve reposted them for us. Looking at those rabbits with the lush green grass brings me back to when I was a child. Rabbits, robins and squirrels are all favorites of mine.
Thank you Monica! I too love robins and squirrels as well. I don't have many squirrels around this year. Not sure why.
You do such beautiful work, Pamela. It's a joy to see these animals in the wild.
Thank you!
It is, isn't it?
It absolutely is. It’s been years since I’ve looked in my backyard to see a wild bunny. I’ve missed that.
C.J. I know one day I may not have rabbits in the yard where I live, so glad to have them now and photos to remember them by.
I agree! I hope you do have rabbits always.
Thank you!
Thank you so much C.J.!
You're welcome, Pamela! ❤️
You and the cottontail are having a convo here! Love the images!
Thank you! I am always talking to the critters when they are in the yard. Especially when I am behind the lens and I want them to stick around so that I can get photos.
Always enjoy your photos! Thanks for sharing! Love the rabbits!
Thanks so much John!
One can learn an awful lot from talking to rabbits, and birds, and squirrels. People living in the townhouse units near me probably think me a little daft, but I am absolutely not imagining the soft clicks my crow friends respond to me with, and my squirrel acquaintances cock their heads in the most knowing manner when I say hello to them.
All of my neighbors think I am daft too, but I honestly don't care. I creep about the yard with my camera, talking softly to the birds, insects and critters, and the plants! I am happy!
Bunnies and flowers existing in perfect harmony is such a beautiful thing. After reading this, I'll look at the rabbits in my yard differently. Thanks, Pamela.
Always so great to read one piece of writing and feel that shift.
Yes!
Rod, I've been pretty lucky with rabbits in the yard and the woodchuck as well, that they don't really get into my flowers. However, something has made waste of all of my morning glories that self seeded from last year. It's okay, I am glad some critter got fed! Thank you Rod!
That’s a great way to look at it!
I can't be mad at critters. They need to eat.